Sultans vs United, 3rd Match at Karachi, PSL, Feb 21 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
3rd Match (N), Karachi, February 21, 2021, Pakistan Super League
(19/20 ov, T:151) 151/7

United won by 3 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
49* (31) & 2/31
lewis-gregory
New
IU
Full commentary

That's all we have from the game. Watch out for Matt's report, and we'll see you tomorrow!

"We're very happy," Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan says. "Like I said earlier, we have depth in our batting but you can't afford to hand the momentum over to the other side. I'm just glad we won. Experience told for us in the end. Faheem's little innings was vital, and we need to use him as much as possible. The first win gives us momentum and we look forward to the rest of the league."

Lewis Gregory is the Player of the Match. "We got off to a fantastic start but lost our way in the middle. It was the sort of chase where we didn't have to do something too crazy. That allowed me to take my time and get adjusted to the pitch. I just needed to find the gaps, and thankfully that happened."

"I thought we bowled really well to keep them down to 150, and the top six had to take responsibility," Islamabad United opener Alex Hales says, We didn't quite do that, but our allrounders really bailed us out. I'm used to playing in different conditions around the world. Each country poses different challenges but I really enjoy it"

Now it feels like the PSL's properly taken off. First real nailbiter of this season, and this will give Islamabad a huge lift. They looked like they were cruising, before throwing it away in the middle, but Lewis Gregory and some real sloppiness in the field gets them back in it, and the two-time champions have the last laugh.

19.1
1w
Sohaibullah to Gregory, 1 wide

that's a wide, and while that denies Gregory the half-century, let that not detract from a glorious innings for his side. Multan look properly dejected here, they've thrown this game away. Afridi having words with Sohail Tanvir and it's all fallen apart for Mohammad Rizwan's side

What a masterful innings this has been

end of over 1919 runs
IU: 150/7CRR: 7.89 RRR: 1.00
Lewis Gregory49 (31b 6x4 1x6)
Zafar Gohar3 (4b)
Sohail Tanvir 4-0-38-0
Carlos Brathwaite 4-0-23-2
18.6
1
Tanvir to Gregory, 1 run

Single to keep the strike. Scores level, 19 off the over, and Islamabad are about to begin with a win

18.5
4
Tanvir to Gregory, FOUR runs

driven back past Tanvir. Right in the slot and he slapped it back past the bowler for a fourth boundary on the trot. Gregory two away from 50 now

18.4
4
Tanvir to Gregory, FOUR runs

another boundary, beats short fine leg this time. Strays down leg side and all he has to do is steer it past the man at short fine. Just 6 away now

18.3
4
Tanvir to Gregory, FOUR runs

carved away past backward point, and Islamabad on their way now. Somehow, Multan have seen this slip away from them. Pierces the gap between deep point and backward point, but Tanvir felt the ring fielder could have put in a better effort there

18.2
6
Tanvir to Gregory, SIX runs

nails it, Gregory is taking Islamabad home at the moment! Short and sat up at pace, with Gregory lying in wait to thump it over square leg

18.1
Tanvir to Gregory, no run

slower bouncer from Tanvir. Bottom edge from the batsman, no runs to be had

Naveed: "Hmmmm, I feel like IU should have sent Hasan Ali ahead of Zafar in this situation"

end of over 185 runs
IU: 131/7CRR: 7.27 RRR: 10.00
Lewis Gregory30 (25b 3x4)
Zafar Gohar3 (4b)
Carlos Brathwaite 4-0-23-2
Sohaibullah 3-0-25-0
17.6
1
Brathwaite to Gregory, 1 run

chipped to midwicket where the fielder collects on the bounce. Superb over from Brathwaite. We're into the final two

17.5
2
Brathwaite to Gregory, 2 runs

arghh, another misfield, they're beginning to catch up with Multan here. That should only ever have been a single, but a misfield allows Gregory to come back. Rizwan does not look best pleased

17.4
Brathwaite to Gregory, no run

the change of pace is really hard to get a hold off. Danced own the track but went thourgh his shot way too early. Great over for Multan so far

17.3
1
Brathwaite to Zafar, 1 run

driven back to the bowler. A little misfield by the big man, and the batsmen scamper across for one

17.2
Brathwaite to Zafar, no run

length delivery with a bit of extra bounce. Muffled appeal for caught behind by Rizwan

17.1
1
Brathwaite to Gregory, 1 run

little jab to the onside, Gregory was desperate for two there but it was never really on. Edge of seat stuff, this

That was a decent over for both sides in the circumstances. Islamabad giving themselves a chance by taking the game deep.

end of over 179 runs
IU: 126/7CRR: 7.41 RRR: 8.33
Lewis Gregory26 (21b 3x4)
Zafar Gohar2 (2b)
Sohaibullah 3-0-25-0
Carlos Brathwaite 3-0-18-2
16.6
1
Sohaibullah to Gregory, 1 run

Single to backward point

16.5
1
Sohaibullah to Zafar, 1 run

really taking the pace off it now, and Gohar's only too happy to rotate the strike for now. Direct hit would have had Gregory in trouble

16.4
1
Sohaibullah to Gregory, 1 run

fuller delivery, chunky inside edge that could have fetched four were it a few inches either side of short fine leg

16.3
4
Sohaibullah to Gregory, FOUR runs

slower ball that Gregory was onto very quickly. Saw the gap in the extra cover region and perfectly found it with a thumping drive. Game's still got life in it

16.2
1
Sohaibullah to Zafar, 1 run

gets off the mark with a single to third man

16.1
1
Sohaibullah to Gregory, 1 run

steered to mid-off and the pair exchange ends

Isaac Marshall: "Faheem's batting improvement seems to have took something out of his bowling but as part of a six man Pakistan bowling attack, he looks good. Just stop bowling him at the death!"

end of over 168 runs • 1 wicket
IU: 117/7CRR: 7.31 RRR: 8.50
Lewis Gregory19 (17b 2x4)
Carlos Brathwaite 3-0-18-2
Sohail Tanvir 3-0-19-0
15.6
W
Brathwaite to Faheem, OUT

It just had to be. Faheem scoops it up to Afridi again, and this time it's a regulation catch. He makes no mistake and then smashes the ball back into the ground in frustration. Multan were desperate for that one

Faheem Ashraf c Shahid Afridi b Brathwaite 22 (12b 2x4 1x6 23m) SR: 183.33
Win Probability
MS 100%
MSIU
100%50%100%MS InningsIU Innings

Over 20 • IU 151/7

United won by 3 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)
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Pakistan Super League

TEAMMWLPTNRR
IU1082160.859
MS1055101.050
PZ1055100.586
KK105510-0.115
LQ105510-0.589
QG10284-1.786